Toothed belt with armor and supporting elements for conveying or transporting means

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an armored toothed belt of elastic material with supporting elements for conveying or transport means. The supporting elements comprise areal force transfer element embracing the armor and/or the tooth blocks.

United States Patent 11 1 Wiese et al.

[ TOOTHED BELT WITH ARMOR AND SUPPORTING ELEMENTS FOR CONVEYING OR TRANSPORTING MEANS [75] Inventors: Hans-Holger Wiese; Horst Siemsen,

Fuhrberg, both of Germany [73] Assignee: Hans-Holger Wiese, Wieloweg,

Germany 22 Filed: Nov. 17, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 307,542

[52] 115.01. 198/193 51 1111.01. ..B65g15/30 5s FieldofSearch ..19s/1s9,193

[ Nov. 19, 1974 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,537,571 11/1970 Han-HolgerWi ese ..198/'193 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Attorney, Agent, or FirmRichards & Geier 5 7] ABSTRACT The invention relates to an armored toothed belt of elastic material with supporting elements for conveying or transport means. The supporting elements comprise areal force transfer element embracing the armor and/or the tooth blocks.

4 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures TOOTHED BELT WITH ARMOR AND SUPPORTING ELEMENTS FOR CONVEYING OR TRANSPORTING MEANS The German Patent 1,283,612 discloses that conveying means are appended by means of cross bars onto the tooth blocks of a toothed belt, which cross bars are introduced into the traverse bores of said tooth blocks. In this manner it is possible to transfer tangential or radial forces on the tooth blocks; the disadvantage in this context being that major loads would tear heavily on the material and lead to undesirable squeezing.

The fundamental object of the invention resides in that the supporting elements of conveying and transport means provided on the tooth blocks are constructed such that far greater forces than heretofore can be carried or translated.

According to the invention this is achieved by providing supporting elements in the form of areal force transfer element embracing the armor cord and/or tooth blocks. In this manner, the radial forces come to act on a larger area of the tooth block and, consequently, provoke only diminished areal squeeze, i.e. under equal areal squeeze larger forces can be absorbed. By way of embracing the armor or reinforcement, the material of the tooth blocks is to a large extend protected against deformation and damages resulting therefrom.

Furthermore, the supporting elements according to the invention comprise one or several crosspieces enclosing the tooth blocks by means of curved or bent edges. The tooth block is, therefore, capable of absorbing a major angular moment or torque.

A supporting element may suitably consist of cover plates having increased strength, in accordance with yet another feature of the invention, when said cover plates form an integral bracket together with the crosspiece located on the bottom side of the tooth block. Consequently, the manufacture of such a supporting element and its attachment to the tooth block is, indeed, simplified.

The countertorsional moment provoked by the tangential forces in the tooth blocks can be absorbed still more effectively by a supporting element being wide enough so as to enclose two or several tooth blocks because the active forces can then be distributed over several tooth blocks with the countertangential stress capable of counteracting the tangential force on a still larger lever corresponding to the distribution of teeth. In this manner significantly much greater tangential forces can be absorbed as has hitherto been possible with prior art structures.

Additional security for the supporting elements in the tooth blocks may be provided in a manner well known by utilizing cross bars introduced in traverse bores of said tooth blocks.

In a preferred embodiment the supporting element is composed of two parts with both of its members being joined by a hinge, the axis of which residing in the tooth gape or intervening space between two adjacent tooth blocks of the toothed belt.

In accordance with yet another feature of the invention the supporting element may comprise three or a plurality of members interconnected by hinges, the central member constituting the cover plates and the outer members being securely attached to their tooth blocks.

In addition, it is possible to have the supporting elements enclose the tooth blocks in a u-type configuration or to provide same with rectangular and/or circular cross sections whereby the tooth blocks are entirely enclosed by the supporting elements. For mounting the conveying or transport means it is possible to provide the supporting elements with threaded bores or pins, particularly in the neutral zone of the toothed belt. The supporting elements may be imbedded in the material of the tooth blocks so as to assure irreproachable running or travel and to install same as close as possible to the armor.

In the drawing several embodiments of the invention are schematically illustrated, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section of a toothed belt in conjunction with a supporting element;

FIG. 2 is a cross section of the toothed belt and the supporting element according to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4;

FIG. 3 is a view of the supporting element having cover plates extending across two tooth blocks;

FIG. 4 is a view of an alternative embodiment of a supporting element having cover plates twice as wide;

FIG. 5 shows a supporting element extending across two tooth blocks with one point of rotation in the neutral zone;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the supporting element according to FIG. 5',

FIG. 7 shows a supporting element extending across several tooth blocks with points of rotations being in the neutral zone;

FIG. 8 shows a toothed belt with tooth blocks extending only towards one side and comprising u-shaped supporting elements;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the toothed belt according to FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a u-shaped supporting element having threaded bores in the neutral zone;

FIGS. 11 to 13 show T-shaped supporting elements which are, in part, completely imbedded in the material of the tooth block and comprise threaded bores;

FIG. 14 shows a supporting element extending across three tooth blocks with a supporting crosspiece imbedded in the central tooth block;

FIG. 15 shows supporting elements in form of entrainment means entirely surrounding the tooth block;

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the supporting element according to FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows supporting elements entirely enclosing the tooth block and provided with horizontal and vertical threaded or tapped holes;

FIG. 18 is a cross sectional view of the supporting element according to FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 shows a supporting element having an outwardly projecting pin in the neutral zone;

FIG. 20 shows a toothed belt having spherically shaped tooth blocks and supporting elements for conveying means, which elements enclose the tooth blocks in an annular configuration inclusive of the vertical and horizontal tapped holes, and

FIG. 21 is a cross sectional view of the supporting element according to FIG. 20.

Referring to FIG. 1 the toothed belt shown there is provided on both sides of the armor l with tooth blocks 2 on opposite sides thereof, being composed of elastic material. On one of said tooth blocks a supporting element is appended, which element consists in lateral cover plates 3, an upper cross piece 4 and a lower cross piece 5. As is most clearly revealed in FIG. 2, both cover plates 3 and the lower cross piece 5 may form an integral u-type bracket 6. The upper cross piece is provided with punched flanges 8 engaging the slots 7 of cover plates 3. These cover plates 3 are provided with bore holes 9 into which a bolt 10 such as a screw bolt or rivet is introduced which contracts said cover plates such that the u-shaped bracket 6 and the upper cross piece encompass or surround the tooth block 2 of the toothed belt. This bolt 10 serves at the same time as hook-up for the load, e.g. a conveyor bucket or vessel.

The cross pieces 4 and 5 may be provided with curved or bent edges 11 extending around the flanks of the tooth block 2. Due to the fact that the u-shaped bracket 6 encloses the tooth block 2 on the entirety of its area it is capable of transferring major radial forces on the tooth block than was hitherto possible with conventional designs. Since both of the cross pieces 4 and 5 extend around the flanks of the tooth block 2, the cover plates 3 can absorb large tangential forces even when they act on the top of said tooth blocks.

In accordance with FIG. 3 one of the supporting elements is of twice the width of tooth block 2. It consists of the cover plates 13 with the lower cross pieces 5 and the upper cross pieces 4 and 14, only the lower cross piece 4 of which being provided with bent edges 1 1 surrounding the tooth block 2 as in its flank. Contrarywise, the upper cross piece 14 laying on top of the adjacent tooth block 12 is even just like the lower cross piece 5. In this way it is assured that the tooth blocks 2 and 12 have some lateral play such that they can take up an angular position with respect to one another in keeping with the bend radius of the idler or drive wheels when the toothed belt is being bent.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment which resembles that of FIG. 3, however, not provided with an upper cross piece 4. In its place there have been inserted in a manner well known cross bars 16 into the traverse bore holes within the tooth block 2, which cross bars have the purpose to hold the cover plates together. I

The cover plates 13 of the supporting elements according to FIGS. 3 and 4, which are twice as wide, are particularly suited for absorbing large torsional momentum provoked by tangential forces.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the two-membered supportingelement has its members interconnected by way of a hinge 17. The axis of rotation of said hinge 17 is located in the gap of tooth 19 between two adjacent tooth blocks 2, 12 in the neutral zone of the toothed belt. One member is designed as fixing element 18 and enclosed the tooth block 2 in a conventional manner. In addition, the fixing element 18 may be secured by means of a cross bar 16 introduced into a bore hole of the tooth block 2. The second member is similarly constructed as the supporting element according to FIGS. 1 and 2. The bent edges, however, on the cross bars have been omitted here. This conveying element encompasses the neiboring tooth block 12 and, like the fixing element 18, is additionally secured by means of a cross bar 16 introduced into a bore hole of tooth block 12. The arrangement of hinge l7 permits the tooth blocks 1, 12 to be angularly aligned with respect to one another when the toothed belt is bent.

In FIG. 7 there is illustrated a three-membered element the central member of which comprised a bolt 10 for receiving the supporting element. Both of the outer members correspond to the fixing element 18 according to FIG. 5. The three members are interconnected by way of hinges 17 the rotation axes of which are located in the gap of tooth 19 between two adjacent tooth blocks 2, 12 in the neutral zone of the toothed conveyor belt. Angular alignment of the adjacent tooth blocks with respect to one another is also possible here in keeping with the curvature radius when the toothed belt is being bent.

The supporting element according to FIG. 8 comprises a lower cross piece 20 totally imbedded in the material of the tooth block 21, which cross piece 20 forms together with cover plates 22 a u-type profile. The cross piece 20 is, in this connection, imbedded in the material of the toothed belt and does not surround it in the conventional manner according to FIGS. 1 and 2. A similar embodiment is shown in FIG. 10; however, the cross piece 23 is not equipped here with cover plates for mounting conveyor or transport means, but is provided with tapped bores 24 for mounting said elements. In the drawings of FIGS. 8 to 13, the toothed belt utilized there is provided only with simple tooth blocks 25 extending on one side thereof. The supporting elements 26, 27 and 28 shown in FIGS. 11 to 13 are provided with tapped bores 29, 30 and 31. These supporting elements are partially aligned in horizontal as well as vertical relationship. The supporting element 26 engages according to FIG. 1 1 the T-shaped cross pieces behind the armor ropes 1 of the tooth block 25. This trailing engagement is shown also in FIGS. 12 and 13, however, this time in vertical direction. Likewise, the cross piece 32 is imbedded in the material of a tooth block and connected to an upper cross piece 32 resting simply on the opposite sides of the tooth blocks and connected to cover plates 34 and 35. The entrainmenttype supporting elements 35 according to FIGS. 15 and 16 are provided like the embodiments of FIGS. 14 with a lower supporting cross piece 36 completely surrounding the tooth block 37 and forming an integral part to gether with the entrainer tip 35. The toothed belt mounted only one side with tooth blocks 38, in accordance with FIG. 17, is completely enclosed by supporting elements 39 of rectangular cross section. It is provided both with vertical and horizontal tapped bore holes 40 and 40a located in the neutral zone used for attaching the conveying means. FIG. 18 shows a cross sectional view of the supporting element 39 according to FIG. 17. A complete enclosure of the toothed belt with a tooth block is illustrated in FIG. 19, the supporting element 41 being equipped with fastening pin 42 in the neutral zone. An equivalent alternative to FIGS. 17 and 18 is represented in FIGS. 20 and 21 wherein use is made of annular supporting elements 43 completely enclosing the spherical tooth blocks 44 of the toothed belt and provided both with vertical and horizontal tapped holes 45 and 45a.

What I claim is:

1. A toothed belt with teeth blocks consisting of elastic material, an armor cord and conveying and transporting means having supporting elements engaging selected tooth blocks and cover plates which are twice the width of a tooth block and which embracingly engage two adjacent tooth blocks.

2. A toothed belt according to claim 1, wherein the supporting element of double width is additionally secured in a tooth block in a conventional manner by cross bars introduced into traverse bore holes, while said element embraces the adjacent tooth block by means of its cross pieces with the cross piece located on the bottom side of the tooth block together with the cover plates of the supporting element forming bracket.

3. A toothed belt with teeth blocks consisting of elastic material, an armor cord and conveying and transporting means having supporting elements engaging selected tooth blocks, each supporting element comprising two members and a hinge flexibly joining said members with its axis of rotation located in a tooth gap between two adjacent teeth blocks in the neutral zone of the toothed belt.

4. A toothed belt with teeth blocks consisting of elastic material, an armor cord and conveying and transporting means having supporting elements engaging selected tooth blocks, each supporting element comprising a central member and two outer members and hinges interconnecting said members, said central member being a cover plate, said outer members being attached to said selected tooth blocks, said hinges having an axis of rotation extending in tooth gaps between the tooth blocks in the neutral zone of the toothed belt. 

1. A toothed belt with teeth blocks consisting of elastic material, an armor cord and conveying and transporting means having supporting elements engaging selected tooth blacks and cover plates which are twice the width of a tooth block and which embracingly engage two adjacent tooth blocks.
 2. A toothed belt according to claim 1, wherein the supporting element of double width is additionally secured in a tooth block in a conventional manner by cross bars introduced into traverse bore holes, while said element embraces the adjacent tooth block by means of its cross pieces with the cross piece - located on the bottom side of the tooth block - together with the cover plates of the supporting element forming bracket.
 3. A toothed belt with teeth blocks consisting of elastic material, an armor cord and conveying and transporting means having supporting elements engaging selected tooth blocks, each supporting element comprising two members and a hinge flexibly joining said members with its axis of rotation located in a tooth gap between two adjacent teeth blocks in the neutral zone of the toothed belt.
 4. A toothed belt with teeth blocks consisting of elastic material, an armor cord and conveying and transporting means having supporting elements engaging selected tooth blocks, each supporting element comprising a central member and two outer members and hinges interconnecting said members, said central member being a cover plate, said outer members being attached to said selected tooth blocks, said hinges having an axis of rotation extending in tooth gaps between the tooth blocks in the neutral zone of the toothed belt. 